Rail-joint.



No. 769,553. K PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904. H. S. MANN. RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1903.

NO MODEL.

am /f C@ f7 y www No. r769,553.

@NEED STATES Patented September 6, 1904.

HENRY S. MANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAIL-JOINT.

SPECIFICATION'formng part of Letters Patent No. 769,553, dated September 6, 1904.

Application tiled November 20,1903. Serial No. 181,902. (No model.)

Be it known that I, H nNRY S. MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cool; and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hail-Joints,of which the Yt'ollowingis a specification, reference being' had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved joint for railway-rails and means for locking the nuts especially adapted to such joint.

It consists in the features of construction set out in the claims.

In the drawings. Fig'ure l is a plan view of a railway-joint embodyingnrv invention. Fig'. .2 is an inner side elevation. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a slight modification of the nut-lock device. Fig. #L is a section at the line i i on Fig'. l. Fig'. is a section at the line 5 5 on Fig'. l. Fig. 6 is an end view of one ot' the clamping-bolts employed in binding' the joint. 7 is a detail under side View of a portion of the base-plate having a special form of aperture to accommodate and prevent rotation of the bolt shown in Fig'.

The rail A is shown of customary construction having' the base-ilanges A, the vertical web A2, and the head or tread A3. For securing two such rails at the joint YI provide two tie-plates B and C.

The tie-plate B comprises a base-plate I, which extends under the rails to be joined, lapping their junction and may, if desired, reach from a tie N at one side of the joint to a tie C at the other side. This tie-plate conn prises integrally with the base-plate portion B the portion B2, trending' back toward the rail at an acute angle to the base-plate, between which and the base-plate portion B in such acute angle one base-tlange A of the rail is entered and adapted to be clamped. From the inner edge of this portion the tieplate extends upward, the upstanding portion B being' wedge-shaped by reason of the slope at the lower edge to tit the upper surface of the rail-flange and at the upper edg'e to lit the under beveled surface of the rail-head A and being' preferably hollowed at the inner side facing' the vertical web A2 of the rail. The

tie-plate C has a portion C corresponding in form and position to the portion B of the tie-plate B--that is, being adapted to lit between the under beveled face of the head of the rail and the upper sloping face of the base-flange of the samev and from the lower edge of this upstanding wedge-shaped portion it extends outward in a broad flange C2, corresponding to the part B2 ot' the tie-plate B and overhanging the portion of the baseplate A of the tie-plate B, at which the latter extends beyond the margin of the base-flange ot' the rail.

At points corresponding to the bolt-apertures in the rails to be joined the upstanding portions B:s and (1 of the tie-plates have suitable bolt-apertures (l, and track-bolts I) of customary construction are inserted through the bolt apertures of the tie-plates and rails for joining them. The track-bolts have the customary lins 1) at diametrically opposite points under the head to render them at that point non-circular, and the boltholes through the tie-plates are oblong', as seenin Fig. 7, to accommodate these lins and prevent the bolts from rotating while the nuts are being' tightened on them.

rlhe angle 7; between the base-plate B and the portion B2 ofthe tie-plate B is formed originally a little sharper than the angle between the upper and lower surfaces of the base- `flange of the rail, and when the two tie-plates are applied at opposite sides of the rails to be joined and the track bolts are drawn up to tighten them the spreading of the angle between the base-plate B and the portion B2 of the tie-plate B would tend to throw the baseplate away from the under surface of the rail base-tlange. I his is checked by the clamping-bolts E, which pass through the oblong counter-sunk holes b in the base-plate B, being provided with tins c to prevent them from rotating', and take thence through the boltapertures in the tlange (f2 of the tie-plate C and receive the nuts F above said flange.

The flange C2 has at its outer edge a downwardly-projecting lip or bead Ci", which when the joint elements are drawn together by tightening the bolts stops on the upper surface of the base-plate B, forming a support IOO ` outside the line of bolts E, so that as the nuts are further tightened on the bolts E they have opportunity to draw the flange C2 toward the base-plate B and increase the grip which the two tie plates obtain upon the baseflange, and it is rendered very tight by the wedging of the upstanding portions B3 and C' of the tie-plates between the diverging upper surface of the rail base-flange and under surface of the rail-head, the result of the action of both sets of bolts D and E being to give the tie-plates a Very strong grip not only against the opposite sides of the rail by means of the upstanding wedge portions B3 and C', but against the upper and lower surfaces of the base-flange thereofl by means of the powerful lever action which the base-plate obtains for gripping the iiange, which maybe understood by treating the angle as the fulcrum of said plate operating as a lever and considering that the clamping pressure is applied where the bolt E engages said plate at the opposite side of the rail.

The track-bolts E are put in with the ordinary so called staggered construction-- that is, alternate bolts having their heads at opposite sides-so that at each side only alternate bolts show the nuts D2. For locking the nuts at the side at which the tie-plate C is applied advantage is taken of the double line of nuts there exposed-to wit, the line of nuts D2 on the track-bolts D and the line of nuts F on the clamping-bolts E. This latter line is set at a slight angle to the trend of the rail, as may be seen upon close inspection of Fig. l, whereon the dotted line X X is thev line in which the centers of the bolts would stand if arranged in line parallel with the rail. A keyplate G is provided having a taper corresponding to the deiiection of the line of the bolts from the line of the rail, as indicated. This key-plate has a flange G/ turned up at one edge to abut against the sides of the nuts D2 on the track-bolts, the other edge g abutting against the inner sides of the nuts F on the clamping-bolts E. The key-plate is preferably sprung or curved upward between the edge g and the angle, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5, and said edge g is also preferably slightly beveled, making an acute angle at the lower corner. When the nuts D2 and F are tightened, they may be brought to iinal position, with the lower faces of the nuts D2 in line and the inner faces of the nuts F in line, so that the key-plate G being interposed endwise into the angle of the tie-plate C under the nuts D2 and inward from the nuts F may be driven tight against the proximate faces of the two rows of nuts, and thus secure them all against turning.

Preferably the tie-plate has several notches G3 G3 toward one end, and the key-plate may be driven to position and the driving be stopped with one of these notches registering the spike-apertures L in the tie-plates,

so that a spike which may be driven to secure the rail and tie-plates to the ties will also secure the key-plate against longitudinal displacement. Spike-apertures L are formed through both the elements B and B2 of the tie-plate B at the opposite side, and spikes driven therethrough, as through the apertures L, secure the tie-plates directly to the ties for holding the rails thereto; but it will be noticed that this joint is adapted to be perfectly secure and to constitute a rigid connection between two rails as strong as the rail itself even when such junction occurs between ties, so that the tie-plates are not lodged on the ties at all.

For'locking the nuts on the track-bolts D at the outer side opposite that in which the key-plate G is employed I provide a keyplate H. This key-plate is slightly curved transversely to hollow it on the side facing the upstanding element B3 of the tie-plate B and at its upper edge is preferably beveled to an acute angle to give it a slight biting effect on the face of the tie-plate. It has a notch or notches H of suitable width to stride the shank and pass under the head of the bolt whose head is at that side of the rail, and at its lower edge it has the outwardly-turned ianges or lugs H2 H2 extending from the margins of the notch H, and thereby projecting out under the edge of the head ,of the bolt when the latter is drawn up against the outer face of the key-plate when tightening the nut. These lugs or flanges H2 thus prevent the escape of the key-plate. l/Vhen there are only two bolts having the nuts on that side, as in the forms shown in Figs. l and 2, this keyplate need notextend farther than to the nuts at opposite sides of the bolt, under whose head it is engaged as described, and at the ends it has then the flanges or lugs H3 H2, which are turned out against these nuts D2, as seen in Fig. 2. When there are more than two bolts having nuts at that side of the rail, the key-plate may be made in the form shown in Fig. B-that is, having two notches H-to adapt it to stride the shanks of the two bolts whose heads are at that side, having intermediate them a notch H'L to stride the intermediate nut D2 and having lugs turned out at the opposite edges of the notch, between which the nut is held with the two opposite faces abutting against said two opposite lugs. At the ends of the key-plate in .thi's form there will be formed the lugs M3 M3 to abut, as described, against the faces of the two nuts on the bolts at the ends of the row.

I claimw l. A rail-joint comprising two plates having similar elements adapted to lodge at opposite sides of the vertical web of the rail between the base-flange and head thereof; one of said plates having rigid with it a base-plate extending under the rail and projecting past the railbase at the opposite side; the other plate hav- IIS ing a flange extending' ofil toward the side at which the base-plate projects, and projecting also past the rail-base and overhang'ing' the projecting portion ot' the base-plate at an interval theret'rom; bolts binding' the two plates together at opposite sides ot' the vertical web ot' the rail, and bolts e'xtendingaeross such interval clamping the base-plate and said hori- Zontal flang'e toward each other.

Q. A rail-joint comprising', in combination with the tieplate,B,having an opstanding' portion t'or wedg'ing' between the base and head otl the rail, and integrally therewith a baseplate portion extending' under the rail, and the tie-plate, (l, having' also a portion Vfor eng'ag'- ing' between the head and base-flange ot' the rail and the flange, C2, extending' ofi' therefrom overhanging the base-plate at an interval, and provided at its outer marg'in with a downwardly-projecting' bead or boss, C20. for stopping' on the baseplate; bolts binding' said plates together embracing the vertical web otl the rail, and bolts clamping the said tlange and base-plate tog'ether between the marg'in ot" the rail and said bead.

3. A rail-joint comprising' a base-plate extending' Linder the rail; an element adapted to be rigid with the base-plate at one side and lodged between the head and base-flange of' the rail at that side; an element at the other side similarly lodged between the head and base-plate and having' a flange extending ofi' beyond the margin ot' the rail overhanging the base-plate; a row ot' bolts securing' said similarly-lodged elements together embracing' the rail; a row ot bolts securing the base-plate to said overhang'ing' flange, said two rows ot' bolts being in slightly-diverging lines; nuts on said bolts and a key-plate tapered to correspond to the divergence of said two lines, entered and wedged between the nuts on the two rows ot' bolts respectively.

t. A rail-joint comprising' a base-plate extending' under the rail; an element adapted to be rigid with the base-plate at one side and lodged between the head and base-flange otl the rail at that side; an element at the other side similarly lodged between the head and base-plate and having' a flange extending oli' beyond the margin of the rail overhanging the base-plate', a row ot' bolts securing said similarly-lodged elements together embracing' the rail; a row ot' bolts securing the base-plate to said overhang'ing' flange, the last-mentioned row ot' bolts being in a line slightly diverging' lfrom the trend of the element lodged between the head and base-plate at the side toward the said row of' bolts, and a key-plate tapered to correspond to the divergence ot' said two lines, entered and wedged between the nuts on the two rows of' bolts respectively.

A rail-joint comprising a base-plate extending' under the rail; an element adapted to be rigid with the base-plate at one side and lodged between the head and base-flange ot' the rail at that side; an element at the other side similarly lodg'ed between the head and base-plate and having' a flange extending' otlI beyond the margin ot' the rail overhanging the base-plate; a row of bolts seem'ing' said similarly-lodged elements together embracing the rail; a row of' bolts securing' the base-plate to said overhang'ing' flange` the last-mentioned row ot' bolts being' in a line slightly diverg'ing Yfrom the trend otl the element lodged between the head and base-plate at the side toward the said row ot' bolts` and a key-platel tapered to correspond with the divergence of said lines having' an uptm'ned flange for stopping the nuts on the first row ot' bolts and adapted at its opposite edge to stop the nuts on the other row.

6, A rail-joint comprising' a base-plate extendingnnder the rail; an elemcntadapted to be rigid with the base-plate at one side and 'lodged between the head and base-flange ot' the rail at that side; an element at the other side similarly lodged between the head and base-plate and having a flange extending' ott' beyond the margin of' the rail overhanging the base-plate; a row ot bolts securing said similarly-lodged elements together embracing the rail; a row of bolts securing' the base-plate to said oyerhanging' flange, the last-mentioned row of' bolts being ina line slightly diverg'ing from the trend ot' the element lodged between the head and base-plate at the side toward the said row o'f bolts, and a key-plate tapered to correspond to the divergence ot' said lines and wedged between the nuts on said two rows ot' bolts, the plates ot' said joint having' coinciding' spike-apertures and the key-plate having' a plurality of' notches for registering with said spike-apertures.

T. A rail-joint comprising a base-plate t'or extending' under the rail; an element adapted to be rigid therewith at one side. lodged between the head and base-flange ot' the rail at that side; a similarly-lodged element at the other side having' a flange extending ofl` therefrom at the lower edg'e overhang'ing' the baseplate; and a row ot horizontal bolts securing' said similarly-lodged elements; a row ofl vertical bolts securing' the base-plate and said overhanging flange, one ot' said rows being in a line diverging slightly from the plane ot' the outer Vface of' the elements penetrated by the other row, and a key-plate tapered to correspond to such divergence and adapted to be entered between the nuts on said diverging' row and said face from which said row diverg'es.

8. Vln a rail-joint in combination with tieplates embracing the rail between them, bolts which bind the tie-plates to the rail, alternate bolts having' their heads at opposite sides ot' the rail; a key-plate notched to stride the shank ot' one of the bolts back o't' the head, having' at its lower edge flanges projecting under the lower margin ot' the head of' such IOO IOS

bolt, and having lugs projecting from the face and abutting against the sides of the nuts on the proximate bolts.

9. In a rail-joint in combination with two tie-plates embracing the vertical web of the rail between them; a row of bolts securing said tie-plates together to the rail, alternate bolts in the row having their heads at opposite sides of the rail; a key-plate at one side notched to stride the Shanks of the bolts having their heads at that side, and having at the lower edge lugs or flanges projecting under the margin of said heads, said key-plate having also a notch striding the nut of an intermediate bolt, said notch having lugs projecting from its lateral edges, between which the nut is stopped.

lO. A rail-joint comprising a base-plate extending under the rail; an element adapted to be rigid with the base-plate at one side and lodged between the head and i base-ange of the rail at that side; `an element at the other side similarly lodged between the head and base-plate having a flange extending off beyond the margin of therail overhanging the base-plate; a row of bolts securing said similarly-lodged elements together embracing the rails; a row of bolts securing the base-plate to the said overhanging flange; nuts' on the bolts in said two rows, the proximate faces of the nuts in the two rows respectively being in slightly-diverging lines, and a key-plate tapered to correspond to the divergence of said two lines entered and wedged between the nuts on the two rows of bolts.

ll. A rail-joint comprising a base-plate extending under the rail, and an element adapted to be lodged between the head and base-flange of the rail; a row of bolts securing said lastmentioned element to the vertical element of the rail; a row of bolts securing said element to the base-plate, the nuts on said two rows of bolts having their proximate faces in slightlydiverging lines; a key-plate tapered to correspond to the divergence of said lines entered and wedged between the nuts of the two rows.

l2. In a rail-joint, in combination with the rails to be joined and the plates for joining them, a row of horizontal bolts securing the.

joining-plates to the vertical element of the rail; a row of vertical bolts for securing to the horizontal element of the rail, the nuts on the bolts in said two rows having their proximate faces in slightly-diverging lines, and a tapered key-plate (entered and wedged between said proximate faces, and means for retaining the key-plate against longitudinal displacement.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two Witnesses, at Chicago, Illinois, this 11th day of November,

HENRY S. MANN. In presence of CHAs. S. BURTON, FRED G. FISCHER. 

